When making this alphabetical list of vegetables I had to decide on which definition to use since what is considered one in a botanical sense is quite different from the popular use of the term. This is not a botanical vegetable list and thus include the likes of tubers, pods and sea vegetables. They are briefly described but most importantly defined with their geographic origins or cultivation origin.
There are many names for these, some of the ambiguations you can find in parenthesis next to the name. Below is a search function for this page where you can find specific terms. If the first match is not correct, press enter to go to the next. If there is no match this page does not contain that term.
Some mixed vegetablesAlphabetical List Of Vegetables
A Acorn squash is closely related to the zucchini and belong in the "winter squash" family. All cultivars of squash have their ancestral roots in the Americas. American groundnut (also potato bean, hopniss, indian potato, groundnut) is a type of bean native to eastern North America. Aonori (also green laver) is seaweed cultivated in Japan. Armenian cucumber (also yard long cucumber, snake cucumber, snake melon, uri) is a cultivar of melon with origin in the southwestern Asia. Arracacha is a root native to the Andes. Related to the carrot. Artichoke (also globe artichoke) is native to southern Europe. Is the actual flower of a thistle. Asparagus are several types, originally native to West Asia, North Africa and Europe. Aubergine (also eggplant, melongene, brinjal) is native to South Asia, it was cultivated first in India. Avocado (also butter pear, alligator pear, abacate, palta) grows on trees and are native to Central America. There are many different cultivars that differ widely in size and fat content. Azuki bean was domesticated thousands of years ago in the Himalayas.
B Bamboo shoot (also bamboo sprout) is like the name suggest sprouts from some types of bamboo that are just out of the ground. Bamboos are native to Australia, Asia, Africa and the Americas but was only traditionally cultivated for sprouts in Asia. Beetroot (garden beet, red beet, table beet) is a common cultivated variety of beet that is native to Europe and Asia. Both root and leafs can be used. Bell pepper (also sweet pepper, pepper) are milder cultivars of the capsicum native to Central and South America. Not related to the spice pepper. Vary in colour according to type and stage of ripeness. Bitter melon (also bitter gourd, karela) is as the name suggests a very bitter fruit. In the same family as melons and cucumbers. Probably native to tropical South and Southeast Asia, also found in Africa and the Americas. Black eyed pea (black eyed bean) is a bean that is a related to the cowpea. Native to India. Black gram (also urad, black lentil, urad dal) a bean first cultivated in India. Black salsify (also Spanish salsify, black oyster plant, serpent root, viper's herb, viper's grass) is a root vegetable native to southern Europe and southwestern Asia. Breadfruit grow on big trees native to South East Asia and the Pacific. Broccoli is the actual flower of a plant in the family brassicaceae. It was cultivated in Europe about 2000 years ago from a type of wild cabbage. There are several cultivars. Brussels (also Brussel sprouts) is cultivated from wild cabbage, probably as early as the 13th century.
C Cabbage (also head cabbage, heading cabbage) was cultivated in ancient times from wild mustard native to the Mediterranean. Caigua (also ´slipper gourd, lady’s slipper, sparrow gourd) is native to South America and Central America where it was domesticated. Cardoon (also artichoke thistle) is closely related to the globe artichoke. Native to Mediterranean Europe. Carrot is the cultivated form of wild carrot that is native to Europe and southwestern Asia. related to parsley.
Cassava (also yuca, manioc, aipim) is a root vegetable native to South America and perhaps West Africa but has spread around the world and is an important staple food in Africa. Eaten cooked or made into flour. Cauliflower are various cultivars originating in wild cabbage. First surged in Mediterranean Europe. Celery (also Chinese spinach) is cultivated from wild celery native to temperate regions in Asia and Europe. Celery root (also celeriac, turnip rooted celery, knob celery) is a type of celery grown for its root. Native to Asia and Europe. Celtuce (also stem lettuce, celery lettuce, Chinese lettuce, asparagus lettuce) was cultivated in China from lettuce, mostly stem and little leaves. Chard (also perpetual spinach, Swiss chard, silver beet, spinach beet, crab beet, mangold,) are the cultivars of beet with edible leafs. Descendant of the wild sea beet native to parts of Europe, Africa and Asia. Chaya (also tree spinach) is a shrub with leafy edible plants native to Mexico. Chayote (also chuchu, christophene, vegetable pear, pear squash) is native to Central America. Chickpea (also garbanzo bean, Indian pea, ceci bean, Bengal gram) is one of our oldest vegetables and has been domesticated for almost 10000 years. Its wild botanical ancestor is native to Turkey. Chicory is an herb native to Europe. The roots are grown to make a coffee substitute. The leaves are cultivated for use in salads, the many times known as endive. Chili pepper (also chilli, pimenta malagueta) is native to South and Central America though widely spread around the world for hundreds of years. Chinese cabbage (also Chinese chard, Chinese mustard, celery mustard, spoon cabbage, bok choy, pak choy) is native to Southeast Asia. Chives is a small strong tasting onion, the stalks are the culinary part. Native to all continents except Antarctica. Collard greens was cultivated from wild cabbage native to the Mediterranean. Common bean is the name for the bean that was cultivated by ancient cultures in Central and South America. Eaten fresh when green, most of the times dried and then cooked. There are many sub species like the black bean (also black turtle), pinto (also mottled bean) pink, borlotto (also strawberry bean, romano bean), shell beans, yellow bean, white bean (also navy bean) and red bean (also kidney bean, chili bean). All these species have their ancestral botanical roots in the Americas. Corn salad (also Lewiston corn salad, lamb's lettuce, field salad, rapunzel) is a leafy green native to Europe, western Asia and North Africa. Cucumber is several cultivars of various shapes, sizes, colors and tastes. The original cucumber is native to India. Has been cultivated for thousands of years. Gherkins can be sorted into this category.
D Dabberlocks (also badderlocks, winged kelp) is a seaweed harvested and eaten in the North Atlantic. Native to the North Atlantic and Alaska. Daikon (also mooli) is a large white radish. Cultivated first in East Asia. Drumstick (also moringa) is a vegetable fruit from a tree native to northwestern India. Quite popular in Asia. Dulse (also dillisk, dilsk, red dulse, sea lettuce flakes, creathnach) is red algae native to oceans in the northern hemisphere where it is also harvested and eaten.
E Elephant garlic is a plant closely related to the leek. It is cultivated from wild garlic that is native to southern Europe and western Asia. Elephant foot yam (also stink lily, white spot giant arum) is a type of yam native to Southeast Asia. Endive cultivated from wild specimens of the chicory family native to Europe. Its leaves are used in salads. There are several endive cultivars like frisé and escarole. Ensete (also enset) is a relative of the banana native to tropical regions in Asia and Africa. It is a root vegetable with high per acre yield popular in parts of Africa.
F Fava bean (also broad bean, horse bean, field bean, bell bean, tic bean) is an important Old World bean, native to North Africa and Southwest Asia. Florence fennel (also finocchio) is a variety of the fennel herb that has a swollen root. Native to the coasts of the Mediterranean.
G Galangal (also galanga, blue ginger) is a relative to ginger and quite similar. Has its origins in Southeast Asia. Garden cress (also garden pepper cress, pepper grass, pepperwort, poor man's pepper) is a leafy herb native to Europe and Asia. Garden onion are several varieties of different shapes, tastes, colour and sizes. Examples are red-, white-, shallot-, brown- and yellow onion. Is probably a cultivated version of a wild onion native to Central Asia. Came to America with Columbus. Garlic is part of the onion family alliaceae and thus related to leeks, onions and such. It is believed to have its ancestor in a type of wild garlic native to southwestern Asia.
Ginger is a culinary tuber that was first cultivated from wild species in South Asia. Goitenyo (also jacatupe, Amazonian yam bean) is a root vegetable native to South America’s rainforests. Greater burdock (also edible burdock, lappa burdock) is a root vegetable native to Europe and Asia although mostly eaten in East Asia. Green bean (French bean, runner bean) is just a collective name for most culinary fresh beans. Guar bean (also cluster bean) is mostly grown for its gelatin like quality when processed. Native to South Asia.
H Hijiki (also hiziki) is a sea vegetable native to coasts in the northwestern Pacific. It grows wild and is harvested. Hyacinth bean (also Indian bean, Egyptian bean) is native to Africa and South Asia.
I Ice cream bean is native to the Amazon. Indian pea (also grass pea, blue sweet pea, white pea, chickling vetch, Indian vetch, white vetch grow) is believed to be native to Central Europe. Ivy gourd is native to tropical regions in Asia, Australia and Africa.
JJícama (also yam bean, yam, Mexican turnip) is a root vegetable native to tropical and sub tropical regions in South America.
K Kai lan (also Chinese broccoli, Chinese kale) is a broccoli like vegetable cultivated in China from wild cabbage. Kale (also borecole) cultivated in Europe from wild cabbage. There are several cultivars with leaves of different shapes and sizes. Kim is seaweed species that have been cultivated and eaten in Korea for hundreds of years. Same as nori and laver. Kohlrabi (also German turnip) was cultivated from wild cabbage in what is believed Central Europe. Kombu (also dashima, haidai) is a culinary kelp native to the northeastern Pacific. It has been cultivated since the 2oth century. Kurrat (also Egyptian leek) is a type of leek that started to be cultivated in the Middle East..
L Laver is species of edible seaweed cultivated and harvested in the Northeast Atlantic. Same as nori and kim. Leek is part of the onion family. Stems from wild species native to Europe and western Asia. Lentil (also masoor dal) one of our earliest domesticated plants. Native to South and Southwest Asia. Many varieties exist. Lettuce is a group of cultivars native to Asia and Europe, they vary a lot in shape, size and colour. The six main are: Chinese lettuce, butter head, iceberg, loose leaf, romaine and summer crisp. Lima bean (also butter bean, haba bean, guffin bean, hibbert bean, sieva bean, Rangoon bean, Madagascar bean, prolific bean, civet bean, sugar bean, pallar bean, Burma bean) has its origins in Central and South America. Lotus flower (also Indian lotus, sacred lotus, bean of India) is a flower native to Asia. All parts of the flower can be eaten. Luffa (also loofah, lufah) are several cultivars from wild species native to tropical regions in Africa and Asia. Popular in Asia. Looks a bit like a cucumber.
M Maize (also corn) are various cultivars domesticated by ancient American cultures. Malabar gourd (also cidra, fig leaf gourd, Asian pumpkin, pie melon, Siam pumpkin, Thai marrow) is a type of squash and thus with its origins in the Americas where it also was cultivated. Popular in Asia. Malabar spinach (also red vine spinach, creeping spinach, climbing spinach) is a leaf vegetable native to tropical regions in Europe and Asia. Malukhiyah are leaves popular in African and Asian cuisines. The various species are native to warmer regions throughout the world. Malva (also mallow) is several species of plants native to Africa, Asia and Europe. The leafs are eaten. Mizuna (also Japanese mustard, potherb mustard, Japanese greens, California peppergrass, spider mustard) was cultivated from species of wild mustard in East Asia. Mung bean (also green bean, mash bean, green gram, golden gram, green soy) is native to South Asia.
Mung beans
N Napa cabbage is a cultivar of Chinese cabbage, the main ingredient in Korean kimchi. New Zealand spinach (also warrigal greens, sea spinach, botany bay spinach, tetragon, Cook's cabbage) is native to New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Chile and Argentina) is cultivated for its green leaves that are eaten fresh. Nopal is a cactus fruit native to Mexico. Nori is the Japanese name for the edible seaweed known in Korea as kim and on the British Isles as laver. Cultivated.
O Ogonori (also ogo, sea moss) a type of seaweed eaten in Japan. Okra (also lady’s finger, gumbo) are green vegetable fruits from a plant native to West Africa. Onion is a collective name for several species in the allum family.
P Parwal (also green potato, pointed gourd, potol) probably cultivated from wild species native to India. Parsnip is a close relative to root parley and carrot. Has its origins in the Mediterranean. Very important in Europe before the potato arrived. Pattypan squash (also sunburst squash, white squash, scaloppini button squash, cymling, scallop squash, granny squash, custard marrow, custard squash) is a type of "summer squash" and thus has its origins in the Americas. Looks like a little pie. Pea are several cultivars stemming from the wild pea that is native to the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Varieties are garden peas (of which there are several others) and split peas. Pepper (also capsicum, bell pepper, paprika, chili peppers) is native to the Americas. Various sizes and cultivars are either treated as spices or vegetables. Pigeon pea (also Congo pea, gungo pea, no eye pea) most probably cultivated first in South Asia. An important crop in India. Potato is a tuber. All the cultivars of today are believed to have a common origin in wild varieties found in Peru but most of them were cultivated in ancient Chile. When it arrived in Europe it changed history. Pumpkin is several big sized cultivars from the family cucurbita that includes squash and gourd, has its botanical origins in the Americas. Very popular in the US.
R Radish are several varieties first cultivated in Europe over 2000 years ago. Radicchio (also lollorosso) is an endive first cultivated in Italy. Rapini (also broccoli rabe, brocoletti) is believed to have its origins in China. Popular in Italy. Related to turnip. Rhubarb is native to East Asia. Rocket (also rucola, aragula) is a strong tasting leaf plant native to the Mediterranean. Root parsley (also Hamburg root parsley) is a type of parsley that has a root that can be used in cooking. It is native to the Mediterranean. Runner bean (also scarlet runner bean) is native to Central America. Rutabaga (also swede, Swedish turnip, yellow turnip) is a root vegetable that is a cross between cabbage and turnip, the leaves are also eaten. Is believed to have been native to Russia or Sweden and brought to Sweden or vice versa by the Vikings.
S Scallion (also spring onion, Welch onion, salad onion, onion sticks, green onion) are several species of onions where the fresh stalks are used. Origins in Asia. Sea beet is the wild ancestor to vegetables like beetroot, chard and sugar beet. Native to parts of Africa, Asia and Europe. Sea lettuce (also aosa) are species of edible green algae growing in all the world oceans. Traditionally eaten in China, Japan, Korea, Scandinavia and on the British Isles. Snake gourd (also serpent gourd) is a very long vegetable fruit native to South and Southeast Asia. Soybean (also Soya bean) is native to East Asia. Very important for thousands of years. Other then to be cooked it is used to make oil, soy milk and tofu. Spinach is native to Central and southwestern Asia, has been cultivated for thousands of years. There are several cultivars like Savoy, semi Savoy and leaf spinach. Spinach beet leaves is a leaf vegetable native to Europe and Asia, the root being, is attached to a beetroot. Squash is collective name for cultivars of both so called "winter-" and "summer squash". Native to the Americas. Summer squash is a collective name for cousa squash, pattypan squash (Scallop squash), yellow crookneck squash, yellow summer squash and zucchini. All with their origins in the Americas. Sugar beet is a variety of beet that is native to Asia and Europe. Is mostly grown to produce sugar. Sweet corn (also indian corn, sugar corn, pole corn) is a type of maize and the most common cultivar. Is cooked or made into flour. Native to the Americas. Sweet potato (also kumara) is a root vegetable native to tropical regions in South and Central America where it was first cultivated.
T Taro (also arrowroot, dasheen) is a plant grown both for its root and its leaves. Native to Indonesia but early on spread around the world. Tepary bean is native to Central America and southwestern North America. Tiger nut (also chufa sedge, yellow nut sedge, tiger nut sedge, earth almond) is a root vegetable believed to be native to warmer regions in Africa, Europe and Asia. Tinda (also Indian round gourd, apple gourd, Indian baby pumpkin) is a gourd native to India. Tomato is original native to highlands in South America. The earliest cultivars were a lot smaller and all yellow. Tomatillo (also green tomato, husk tomato, jam berry, husk cherry, Mexican tomato, ground cherry) is native to Central and South America. Not related to the tomato, rather to physalis. Turnip is a root vegetable grown in temperate regions around the world. Cultivated thousands of years ago in Asia and Europe from the wild turnip mustard. The leaves are also eaten.
Turnips
U Ulluco is a root and leaf vegetable native to Andean regions in South America.
W Wakame is culinary seaweed that is cultivated in Japan and in Korea. Water chestnut (also Chinese water chestnut) is a water growing plant cultivated for its edible roots. Native to East Asia. Watercress is native to Europe and Asia. Belongs to the cabbage family, lives in or close to fresh water. Waterleaf (also Surinam purslane, Philippine spinach, sweetheart, Florida spinach, Ceylon spinach) is a leafy herb important in tropical regions around the world. Native to both the New and the Old World. Water spinach (also water morning glory, Chinese spinach, swamp cabbage) is native to Southeast Asia. Very common in various Asian cuisines. West Indian Gherkin (also West Indian burr gherkin, burr gherkin, burr cucumber) is native to West Africa. Related to the cucumber. Winged bean (also Goa bean) is native to Papua New Guinea. Winter melon (also white gourd, ash gourd, fuzzy melon) is native to Southeast Asia.
Y Yacón is a root vegetable native to Andean South America. Sweet. Yam is several cultivars of root vegetables native to Asia and Africa. Sometimes confused with sweet potato but they are not the same thing. Yard long bean (also snake bean, asparagus bean, long podded cowpea, Chinese long bean) is native to Southeast Asia. Eaten fresh - raw or prepared.
Z Zucchini (also courgette) are types of squash and thus with ancestry in the Americas. Belong to the "summer squash".
Ginger is a culinary tuber that was first cultivated from wild species in South Asia.
